Hip-hop leaves crowd upbeat at Rhino's benefit

No one could deny the feel of the bass at Rhino’s on Saturday night.

“Your head nods are beautiful,” SEMI-PROS emcee said.

The crowd didn’t hesitate to participate as the all-ages venue held a benefit to help purchase a new soundboard, raising $336.

Even though Rhino’s didn’t reach maximum capacity, the crowd continued to grow as acts like Anti-Swag Fiend Party, DJ Wally Wonder, Freddie Bunz and headliner C-Rayz Walz took the stage.

“Hip-hop ushered me through my adolescent and teenage years,” Walz said. “So, supporting good venues and good music was a given for me.”

Walz said he has been rapping professionally for the past 15 years but started at age 5 in his Bronx home in New York City.

“I played everywhere I could when I first got into it,” Walz said. “I just wanted to get on a mic, spread my name and show people what I do.”

Walz said hip-hop bridges the gaps of culture, ethnicities, race and age. He said all-age venues like Rhino’s bridge that generational music gap and give people the chance to express themselves through music despite their age. Bloomington South senior Kevin Weinberg said if he could say one thing to Rhino’s it would be “I love you.”

“I’ve been coming to shows here for six years and playing with different bands here for five,” Weinberg said.

Weinberg, who performed with Rattlesnake and the Church of FreshBeets, plays regularly at Rhino’s with his primary band Xenosound.

“We’re all in high school,” Weinberg said. “But Rhino’s is always supportive of us and not only us but gives chances to anyone who wants to play.”

Weinberg said Rhino’s is also the only venue that pays them to play, and he said he has become really close to the administration throughout the years.

“If I had the money, I would give it all to Rhino’s,” Weinberg said. “But as an aspiring recording arts and music major, it looks like I might always be a poor Bohemian, but we appreciate Rhino’s for letting us keep trying to make it big.”

Now 18, Weinberg said he is definitely looking to reach out to other venues, but he said he’ll never leave Rhino’s. With each performance, there seemed to be a shout-out of appreciation to the venue for everything it has given young artists.

Between sets were beats spun by DJ Wally Wonder, who said he is an advocate for Rhino’s and Bloomington’s music scene. But the evening wasn’t all about the music, as IU senior Quinton Parker and his group B-Boys and B-Girls became the center of attention with their break dance-style choreography.

“The benefit was actually my first time at Rhino’s,” Parker said. “But the venue is
definitely dope.”

The B-Boys and B-Girls are not only present in Bloomington’s break dance scene; the group spends a lot of time traveling around the state. Parker said after visiting Rhino’s, he’s definitely going to look into getting involved with the venue’s teen programs.

“I’d like to see about coming back this summer and maybe doing a few workshops or even teaching a dance class,” Parker said.

Parker’s idea runs parallel to Rhino’s mission of reaching out to the younger population and mixing generations through music.

“I surprisingly don’t really like performing,” Parker said. “But just being able to vibe out at a hip-hop night like this is chill because it’s the music we enjoy.”